North Carolina requires county and city job applicants working with children to undergo criminal history checks

Original title: Parking Lot Reform/Stormwater Control.

Last action · July 7, 2026: Ch. SL 2026-39Sponsors: Donnie Loftis and 16 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Counties and cities in North Carolina must require s for any job applicants whose positions involve working with children in any capacity, effective October 1, 2025. Previously, local governments were only permitted to conduct such background checks at their discretion.

Why it matters

Local government applicants seeking employment involving children must submit to background checks through state and national repositories, changing the hiring process across all North Carolina counties and municipalities.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

counties

Boards of commissioners must require criminal history record checks for applicants applying for positions working with children.

Directly affected

cities

City councils must require criminal history record checks for applicants applying for positions working with children.

Directly affected

applicants for employment

Applicants applying for local government positions involving children are subject to mandatory criminal history record checks.

Key Facts

Counties and cities must require criminal history record checks for employment applicants if the position requires working with children in any capacity.
Record checks must be conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation in accordance with G.S. 143B-1209.26.
The act becomes effective on October 1, 2025, and applies to applications for employment submitted on or after that date.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does this requirement take effect?

The act becomes effective on October 1, 2025, and applies to employment applications on or after that date.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently passed both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

32 actions

Jun 30, 2026House
Ordered Enrolled
Jun 30, 2026House
Concurred In S Com Sub
Jun 25, 2026House
Placed On Cal For 06/30/2026
Jun 25, 2026House
Cal Pursuant 36(b)
Jun 24, 2026House
Regular Message Received For Concurrence in S Com Sub
Jun 24, 2026Senate
Regular Message Sent To House

Show 26 earlier actions

Jun 23, 2026Senate
Engrossed
Jun 23, 2026Senate
Passed 3rd Reading
Jun 23, 2026Senate
Passed 2nd Reading
Jun 23, 2026Senate
Amend Adopted A1
Jun 22, 2026Senate
Reptd Fav
Jun 17, 2026Senate
Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
Jun 17, 2026Senate
Com Substitute Adopted
Jun 17, 2026Senate
Reptd Fav Com Substitute
Jun 16, 2026Senate
Re-ref to Agriculture, Energy, and Environment. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate
Jun 16, 2026Senate
Withdrawn From Com
Mar 26, 2025Senate
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
Mar 26, 2025Senate
Passed 1st Reading
Mar 26, 2025Senate
Regular Message Received From House
Mar 26, 2025House
Regular Message Sent To Senate
Mar 25, 2025House
Passed 3rd Reading
Mar 25, 2025House
Passed 2nd Reading
Mar 24, 2025House
Placed On Cal For 03/25/2025
Mar 24, 2025House
Cal Pursuant Rule 36(b)
Mar 24, 2025House
Reptd Fav
Mar 18, 2025House
Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Mar 18, 2025House
Reptd Fav
Mar 4, 2025House
Re-ref Com On State and Local Government
Mar 4, 2025House
Reptd Fav
Feb 24, 2025House
Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
Feb 24, 2025House
Passed 1st Reading
Feb 21, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

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